Kennedy Resendes is a 7-year-old dancer from Massachusetts. She dances at New Bedford Performing Arts Center.
“dance is All Around the World in different countries. you don’t have to speak the same language. you don’t have to like the same stuff, but once the music comes on we can all have our own style, our own personality, and still have fun together!”
Tell us about your dance experience!
I started dancing in January of 2021 and I started with combo classes in the 3 to 5 age group. My teacher talked to my mom a month in and said that she would love for me to join the 6-year-old ballet class. After that I was also invited to join the 6 year old musical theater class. That summer I tried a lot of dance summer camps and had so much fun my teacher is even asked me to join the company team based on my hard work I would be the youngest answer they have ever invited.
My first year on the company team was amazing I did three group dances and a duet with my best dance friend. My teacher even added a solo at one of the competitions because she thought I was ready I won 1st place at that competition and also ran for title and I won! The trophy was bigger than me but I carried it off stage after giving the other girls a big hug and telling them they did a great job winning is not why I do this I’ve also received many backstage awards at competitions like dancing in the streets for being so polite encouraging others and having such a positive attitude backstage and on stage. I competed at showstopper Nationals in Sandusky Ohio and had the most amazing time it was my first time on a showstopper stage and if you know you know. It was probably the first time in my life that I’ve ever been nervous the stage the lights the people everything is so big so beautiful and it was a very tiring weekend at the water park but I did my best in everyone was so proud I won my first solo trophy that I could take home!!! It’s in my room every day to remind me that with hard work and dedication you can do anything.
How does dance have a positive impact on your life?
Dance makes me feel smart because I remember the choreography that my teachers teach me really fast. Dance makes me feel brave because I can finally stand up for myself and others at school. Dance makes me feel confident because at recess it helps me make friends with other kids really easy and helps me include other kids and teach them things that maybe they don’t know. Dance makes me feel like I have a really big family because my sister left for college this year and it’s been really hard, but my friends at dance are really helping me!
How do you want to use dance to have a positive impact on your community?
I want to use dance to have a positive impact in my community to show people that we can unite everyone through dance. Dance is all around the world in different countries you don’t have to speak the same language you don’t have to like the same stuff but once the music comes on we can all have our own style our own personality and still have fun together. I want to show everyone that no matter who you are dance really does bring us all together as one!
